Sarcophagus.



No.' 740,766'. A PATENTED 00T. a, 1903.

' c. A. LANnoN.

SARGOPHAGUS.

APPLIUATION FILED DEG. 13. 1902.

No 110mm.

rw; mams :mans ou," Fumo-num msnmsrou, o. c,

- Patented October 6, 1903.

PATENT Fries.

CHARLES ALBERT LANDON, OF VANBUREN, OHIO.

SARCOPHAGUS.

SPECXFIGATIIZONl forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,766, dated October 6, 1903. Application liled December 13, 1902. 'Serial No` 135,083. (No mcdel To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that- 1, CHARLES ALBERT LAN- DON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vanburen, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Sarcophagns, ofl which the following is a specification. A Y A Plastic sarcophagi as usually'constructed are composed either entirely of cement or ce-V ment and sand. They are therefore of great weight, and, furthermore, it has been the cus-V tom to construct them with sharp corners and edges, which are easily nicked and broken, thus marring the vWaterproof outer surface and permitting the ingress of moisture to the Walls. Y Y.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a structure which is much lighter, is impervious to moisture, not as liable to injury, and is more ornamental both in shape and finish.

Another and very important feature of the invention resides in a novel joint between the cover and body or receptacle member of the sarcophagns, said joint being secure and entirely waterproof.

The preferred embodi ment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein- Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sarcophagus. Fig. 2 is'a `vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section; and Fig. 4 is a detail section on an enlarged scale, showing more clearly the construction of the joint.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. A A Y In the embodiment illustrated a receptacle member 10 is employed having an open upper end which is arranged to be closed by'a cover member 11. These members are each preferably molded in a single piece and the Walls are composed of an intimate mixture of cinders, cement, and plaster-of-paris. Cinders constitute the body of the Walls and the cement forms the binder for the same. This cement is thoroughly incorporated With the cinders, and as it completely covers the pores thereof the Walls are thus made Waterproof, the outer surface being thoroughly glazed by troweling. The plaster-of-paris is employed for the purpose of giving an ornamental effect, as it overcomes the muddy color of the combined cinders and cement.'

The bottom 12 of the receptaclel member is made dat and the sidewalls 13 diverge therefrom, being joined to the bottom by rounded portions 14. In like manner the end Walls 15 diverge from their lower ends, `which are curved into the bottom, as shown at 16. The corners of the receptacle member are like- Wise rounded otf, and thus all sharp edges liable 'to4 injury are avoided. The cover member 11 is transversely arched, as shown in Fig. 3,-its various edges and corners being rounded or curved, as illustrated. The upper edgeA of the receptacle member is slightly enlarged and is provided With a groove 17, the outer side wall 18 of which is higher than the Wall 19, the inner faces of these Walls being inclined, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The depending edge of the cover member has a depending Wedge-shaped tongue 20 along its inner portion, this tongue being arranged to lit in the groove 17 with the inner face thereof resting against the inclined face of the Wall 19.. The tongue is of less thickness than the Width of the groove,'and the portion 21 of the lower edge of the cover member outside ofthe tongue 2O extends across the space to the higher Wall 18, thus forming an inclosed pocket, in which cement 22 is placed when the members'are sealed together.

In use the receptacle member` is lowered in the grave and the cover is placed in upright position, its lower edge resting against one edge of said receptacle member and its upper face bearing against lthe Wall of the grave. After the coffin has been placed Within the receptacle the cover is lowered to position by suitable straps engaged upon pins or lugs 23, projecting from one side of the same, the cement having first been poured into the groove 17. As the tongue 2O enters the groove it Will close the inner side of the socket, above described, and the cement displaced' thereby Will be forced upwardly against lthe edge or surface 21, thus being tightly packed and forming a secure seal against the ingress of moisture. The advantages for this structure may be summed up as follows: In the rst place because of the cinder-body employed the structure is very light as compared with IOO those now ordinarily used, though it is entirelyimpervious to moisture. By the curved surfaces employed it will be evident that there is not as much danger of checking and marring the walls as with sharp corners and edges. This form aords a more ornamental sarcophagus and the effect is heightened by the use of plaster-of-paris. IThe joint shown and described is very simple and is also entirely waterproof, thereby aiording a secure seal between the two members.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention willA be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention. For instance, the term sarcophagus is intended to cover not only burial-Vaults, but also plastic coffns.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina sarcophagus, a pair of coacting meinbers joined together at their edges, one ot' the members having a groove formed in its edge, the edge of the other member covering the groove and having a wedge-tongue that fits in the groove and is of less thickness than the width thereof, said tongue being arranged to engage against one wall, leaving a space covered by the remainder of the edge for a cement filling.

2. In a plastic sarcophagus, a receptacle member, and a cover member tted thereon, the receptacle member having a groove in its upper edge, the inner wall of the groove being inwardly inclined, and a tongue arranged upon the lower edge of the cover member and fitting in the groove, said tongue having an inclined inner wall that bears on the inclined wall of the groove, lthe tongue furthermore being of less thickness than the width of the groove, thereby leaving a space for a cement filling, the edge of the cover member extending over said space.

3. In a plastic sarcophagus, a receptacle member, and a cover member fitted thereon, the receptacle member having a groove in its upper edge, one wall ot' the groove being higher than the other wall, and a tongue arranged upon the lower edge of the cover niember and fitting in the groove, said tongue being spaced from the higher .wall of the groove, leaving a cement-receiving space.

4. In a plastic sarcophagus, a receptacle member, and a cover member titted thereon, the receptacle member having a groove in its upper edge, the outer wall of the groove being higher than the inner wall, and a tongue arranged upon the inner portion of the lower edge of the cover member and fitting in the inner portion of the groove, being spaced from the higher wall thereof, the lower edge of the cover member outside the tongue eX- tending over the space and forming an inclosed cementreceiving pocket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES ALBERT LANDON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, S. GEORGE TATn. 

